Photo by Fred Joe/The OregonianHenry Selick (center) with Laika CEO Travis Knight at Coraline's February premiere in downtown Portland. Just eight months after Phil Knight’s film studio scored an unexpected hit with its first feature, the studio and the movie’s director have parted ways.

Henry Selick, highly regarded within the animation community, joined Laika five years ago as Knight sought to give the Portland studio artistic credibility. This morning, the studio confirmed Selick’s departure in response to an inquiry from The Oregonian. Laika did not explain the reasons for the split, but did say that Selick’s contract has expired. Selick’s representatives referred questions to Laika.

The news caught many in the animation community off guard, especially since Laika’s first film, “Coraline,” was a critical darling and a commercial success, with global ticket sales topping $120 million.

At its world premiere in Portland last February, Knight and Selick heaped praise on one another and proceeded to reap the fruits of their partnership. Each had said they hoped to work together again.

“Coraline” won broad acclaim from critics for its distinctive look. Selick animates in an old-fashioned style called stop motion, which requires studiously manipulating puppets, frame by frame, to simulate motion. The effect is strikingly different than contemporary, computer-animated hits like “Shrek” and “Finding Nemo.”

Before joining Laika, Selick was best known for directing “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Animators who worked on “Coraline” credit his experience and artistic vision with bringing the film to life, but others complain privately that he was an exceedingly demanding boss.

“I can see how some people would find him difficult to work with,” said Teresa Drilling, an Emmy-winning Portland animator who worked on Coraline. But Drilling, who said Selick’s departure took her by surprise, said those traits made “Coraline” exceptional.

“The things that people find so intriguing and amazing about it (are) the amount of detail,” Drilling said. “That is because Henry would keep pushing for that. It’s not always easy to get the best possible stuff.”

“There’s certainly a good team in place,” Maltin said, “but every team needs a captain.”

Notwithstanding Selick’s departure, Laika is in the final stages of choosing its next project and could announce a decision as early as this month. The studio, which currently employs around 180, will add hundreds as production ramps up.

Stop-motion films are exacting and time consuming, though, so it will be at least a few years before the new movie hits theaters. Eventually, Laika hopes to have multiple films in production simultaneously.

The studio had been experimenting with computer-animated features, but announced last month that it will focus primarily on stop-motion animation for the time being. Laika laid off 63 from the computer animation division until its computer-driven features are further along.

That’s in addition to 65 who lost their jobs last year when Laika shelved plans for a computer-generated film called “Jack and Ben’s Animated Adventure.”

Knight, Nike’s co-founder and chairman, acquired the former Will Vinton Studios in 2003. He quickly set out plans to begin making feature films, in addition to the advertisements and short films Vinton Studios had been known for.

In February, as Laika prepared to release “Coraline,” Knight praised Selick’s ability while acknowledging that working with filmmakers presented challenges he hadn’t encountered as a shoe mogul.

“I’m not sure if he’s a genius, but he brings all the baggage of genius,” Knight joked. He added that he’s delighted with the film, and wanted Selick to direct another Laika project.

“We hope he’s found a home,” Knight said then.

Following the release of “Coraline,” Phil Knight promoted his son Travis to chief executive and named Claire Jennings, a “Coraline” producer, head of Laika’s entertainment division.

Travis Knight is a longtime animation fan and was an early champion of Selick and “Coraline” within Laika.

“Throughout our five years of collaboration, Henry has been variously my director, my mentor, and my friend,” Travis Knight said in a statement today. “I will miss him and wish him well in his future projects.”

In an accompanying statement, Selick wished Laika well but gave no hint of what’s next for him.

“Making Coraline was one of the great filmmaking experiences of my life,” he said.

(Note: This is an updated version of an article originally posted at 11:51 a.m.)